JP2002373175A - Method and system for retrieving service - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a service retrieving method and system capable of retrieving a service desired by a user with higher precision even when it is possible to acquire only a small amount of (insufficient) information for service retrieval from the user. SOLUTION: This service retrieving system is provided with a plurality of service providing server devices for providing a service through a network, terminal equipment to be used by a user being the receiver of the service, for transmitting a keyword for specifying the service, and a service retrieving server device for retrieving a service providing server device for providing a desired service to the user. In this service retrieving method for retrieving the service desired by the user from various services provided through the network, prescribed information is added to the keyword transmitted form the terminal equipment, and service retrieval information for allowing the service retrieving server device to retrieve the service desired by the user is generated.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a service search method and system for searching for a service desired by a user from various services provided via a network.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, the Internet and corporate LANs have been developed.
(Local Area Network) and PDA (Personal D)
It is no exaggeration to say that the spread of mobile terminal devices such as digital assistants and mobile phones has led the world to continue to develop distributed systems using networks. In such an environment, various services are not provided individually to each device, but are provided openly via a network. For example, B to B
(Business to Business) Web services in the market are the best, and the solution requested by the user is the multiple Web services provided through the network.
b. It is realized by organically connecting services and the like.

[0003] On the other hand, as information terminals used by individuals become more sophisticated, the number of situations in which users directly search and use services on a network has been increasing.

In such a distributed system in which various services are distributed on a network, a terminal device searches for a desired service existing on the network and communicates with a Web server device or the like that provides the service. Network middleware for constructing a system that can receive the service is attracting attention.

[0005]

In order to find a desired service using a network, it is necessary to accurately specify and retrieve attribute information which is information relating to each service published on the network. There is.

[0006] However, the types of services provided using the network are diversified, and the number of pieces of attribute information is considered to be enormous.

[0007] In the service search system proposed at present, a mechanism for obtaining attribute information from a predetermined service is provided. However, a service search system for efficiently generating service search information for finding a target service itself is provided. No mechanism is provided.

That is, the prior art has the following problems.

The first problem is that there are enormous types of services published on the network, and the number of attribute information related to these services also becomes enormous. Therefore, in order for a user to find a desired service, it is necessary to create strict service search information and deliver it to a search engine. However, a mechanism for efficiently generating such service search information has not been provided.

[0010] The second problem is that in order to find a service desired by the user with higher accuracy, the performance and installation environment of the terminal device used by the user, or personal information such as the user's hobbies and preferences, are considered. It is important to consider such profile information when searching for services. However, no mechanism is provided for effectively using profile information for generating service search information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional technology, and is intended for a case in which a user can obtain only a small (sufficient) information for a service search. Another object of the present invention is to provide a service search method and system capable of finding a service desired by a user with higher accuracy.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, a service search method according to the present invention transmits a plurality of service providing server devices for providing a service via a network, and a keyword for specifying the service. A terminal device used by a user who is a recipient of the service, a service search server device that searches for a service providing server device that provides a desired service to the user,
A service search method for searching for a service desired by a user from various services provided through the network, wherein predetermined information is added to a keyword transmitted from the terminal device. And a method of generating service search information for causing the service search server device to search for a service desired by a user.

At this time, transmitted from the terminal device,
While accumulating at least one of terminal profile information indicating the performance of the terminal device or user profile information that is personal information of the user for each terminal device, the terminal profile information, or the user profile information, The service search information may be stored in association with the keyword and managed in the group unit, and the service search information may be received from the terminal device and the service search information may be managed in the group unit. When the search is requested, the service search information may be selected based on the keyword and the group of the terminal devices and transmitted to the service search server device.

Further, the service searched by the service search server device is added to the service search information with frequency information indicating a usage frequency counted each time the user uses the service, and is stored. When a search for a service is requested together with a keyword, the service search information that is frequently used may be selected.

Further, when the user uses a service searched by the service search server device, attribute information, which is information related to the service, is stored, and the attribute information is managed in units of the group. Alternatively, frequency information indicating a usage frequency counted by the user each time the service searched by the service search server device is used may be added to the attribute information and accumulated, and the usage frequency may be a predetermined threshold. If the number exceeds the threshold, the attribute information may be stored as the service search information related to the keyword and the group of the terminal devices.

On the other hand, the service search system of the present invention
A service search system for searching for a service desired by a user from various services provided via a network, comprising: a plurality of service providing server devices that provide the service; and a keyword for specifying the service. Transmitting, a terminal device used by a user who is a recipient of the service, a service search server device for searching for a service providing server device for providing a desired service to the user, and a predetermined keyword for a keyword transmitted from the terminal device. And a service search information management server device for generating service search information for causing the service search server device to search for a service desired by the user by adding information.

At this time, the service search information management server device transmits at least one of terminal profile information transmitted from the terminal device, the terminal profile information indicating the performance of the terminal device, and user profile information, which is personal information of the user. May be stored for each of the terminal devices, and the terminal profile information or the user profile information may be grouped for each similar information and managed in units of groups, and the service search information may be associated with the keyword. When the search for the service is requested while receiving the keyword from the terminal device, the service search information is selected based on the keyword and the group of the terminal device. May be transmitted to the service search server device.

Further, the service search information management server device adds, to the service search information, frequency information indicating a use frequency counted each time the user uses the service searched by the service search server device. When the terminal device requests a service search together with the keyword, the frequently used service search information may be selected.

Further, the service search information management server device stores attribute information, which is information related to the service, when the user uses the service searched by the service search server device. Information may be managed in the group unit, and frequency information indicating a usage frequency counted each time the user uses the service searched by the service search server device is added to the attribute information and accumulated, When the use frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the attribute information may be stored as the service search information related to the keyword and the group of the terminal devices.

In the service search method and system described above, predetermined information is added to the keyword transmitted from the terminal device, and service search information for causing the service search server device to search for a service desired by the user is generated. As a result, in addition to the keyword transmitted from the terminal device, the missing information is supplemented, so that a service search that can perform a sufficiently accurate search without transmitting a large amount of information for specifying a service. Information is generated.

The service search information is stored in association with a keyword and managed in a group unit, and when a service search is requested from a terminal device, the service search information is selected based on the keyword and the group of the terminal device. This increases the probability of finding a service that meets the user's requirements.

In particular, frequency information indicating the frequency of use of the searched service by the user is added to the service search information and stored, and when a service search is requested from the terminal device, the service search information with a high use frequency is stored. The selection further increases the probability of finding a service that meets the user's requirements.

[0023]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one configuration example of the service search system of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, a service search system according to the present invention includes a plurality of service providing server devices 1 managed by a service provider that provides a predetermined service via a network, and a service providing service provided by the service provider. Terminal device 2 used by the recipient user
A service search information management server device 3 for generating service search information for searching for a service desired by the user; and a service search server device 4 for searching for a service based on the received information. In this configuration, a server device 1, a service search information management server device 3, and a service search server device 4 are communicably connected via a network 5.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration in which each terminal device 2 is connected to the service search information management server device 3 by wireless communication. However, the terminal device 2 is not limited to a configuration connected to the service search information management server device 3 by wireless communication, and may be a configuration connected to the network 5 via a communication line.

Service providing server 1, service search information management server 3, and service search server 4
Is an information processing device such as a workstation server computer, and the wireless terminal device 2 is a PDA or a mobile phone provided with a wireless communication unit with the service search information management server device 3 or a communication unit with the network 5, or It is an information processing device such as a personal computer.

The service search information management server device 3 is managed by, for example, a service provider that manages the service search system of the present invention, or a third party entrusted with the company. The service providing server device 1
The service search server device 4 may also be managed by a service provider or the like that manages the service search system of the present invention.

In the service search server device 4, attribute information and the like provided by the service provider and necessary for the user to specify the service are registered in advance.

Conventionally, a user who wants to use a service via a network accesses a service search server device 4 using a terminal device 2 and inputs / transmits a keyword or the like set for search by himself / herself. Was searching for services.

However, when a wireless terminal device such as a mobile phone is used as the terminal device 2 for requesting a service, the user interface function and the like are limited as compared with a personal computer or the like, so that a short time is required for service search. It is often difficult to send a lot of information. Furthermore, since the bandwidth of the communication path is limited and the communication cost is high, it is not advisable to transmit a large amount of information every time a service is searched.

In the service search system of the present invention, the user uses the terminal device 2 to search for the service search server device 4.
Instead of directly accessing the service search information management server device 3, the service search information management server device 3 is accessed to transmit a keyword or the like for service search.

The service search information management server 3 stores the profile information of the user and the terminal device 2 in the form of a database and accumulates them, and manages them in groups (client groups) for each user having similar profile information.

Further, service search information to be used for service search is stored in a database and stored, and the service search information is managed in client group units. The service search information database is managed in association with the keyword transmitted from the client. further,
Additional information (frequency information) indicating the use frequency of the user is attached to each service search information.

When the user makes a service search request, based on the idea that the terminal devices 2 belonging to the same group are likely to request a similar service, the keyword transmitted by the user and the keyword used by the user are used. The service search information database is searched using the client group of the terminal device 2 to be used as a key, and service search information, which is information for search to supplement the keyword, is generated. At that time, the frequency information is checked, and the service search information that is frequently used is preferentially selected.

When a user uses a service found as a result of a service search, the attribute information of the service is stored in a database (attribute information database).
And accumulate them. At this time, the attribute information database is managed not in the used service unit but in the client group unit. The attribute information database is managed in association with the keyword transmitted from the client. Further, additional information (frequency information) indicating the use frequency is attached to the attribute information of each service.

When the searched service is used by the user, the service search information management server 3 updates the frequency information of the service search information used for the search and the frequency information of the attribute information of the used service. When the frequency information exceeds a predetermined threshold, the attribute information stored in the attribute information database is written in the service search information database in association with the same client group and the same keyword, and is used as service search information. .

With this configuration, the terminal device 2
In addition to the information such as the keyword transmitted from, the service search information management server device 3 replenishes the missing information, so that the service search information that allows the user to find the desired service with sufficiently high accuracy is generated. You. Therefore, even if a large amount of information is not transmitted from the terminal device 2 to specify a service, a highly accurate service search can be performed.

When the service search information is extracted from the database, the history of the service search so far (especially, the history when the discovered service is used by the user) is recorded, and the service search in the database is performed. By adding data indicating the frequency of use to the information and preferentially selecting the information with the highest frequency of use based on this frequency data, the hit rate of the service search can be increased.

Further, the terminal devices 2 belonging to the same group
By accumulating service search information based on service search results (use results of searched services) from, the type and quality of service search information is improved, and the probability of finding a service that satisfies the user's request is improved. .

As a mechanism for searching for a service via the network 5 and using the searched service on a client, network middleware whose specifications have already been disclosed is known.

More specifically, Jini, which is a specification of network middleware proposed by Sun Microsystems, Inc.
and so on. In the following, the operation of the service providing server device 1 and the service search server device 4 shown in FIG. 1 will be described with an example of using the Jini system.

First, a service search system using Jini will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a general configuration of the Jini system, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of programs and data recorded in the service providing server device shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of programs and data recorded in the client and service search server device shown in FIG.

In the following, a case will be described in which the user directly accesses the service search server device 4 that provides a search service using the terminal device 2 and searches for the service providing server device 1 that provides a desired service.

As shown in FIG. 2, a general Jini system includes a service providing server device 1 managed by a service provider that provides a predetermined service via a network 5 and a Lookup service (a search service in the Jini system). Is referred to as a Lookup service) and a terminal device 2 used by a user is connected to the service search server device 4 via a network 5.

As shown in FIG. 2A, when the service providing server device 1 is connected to the network 5, first,
A message according to the Discovery protocol is transmitted in order to search for a service search server device 4 that provides a Lookup service. The service search server device 4
In response to the ery message, a response message indicating the existence of the Lookup service is returned to the service providing server device 1.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the service providing server device 1 that has found the Lookup service uses the service proxy information to be used by the terminal device 2 when providing the service to the user, and the service proxy information in the Lookup service. Service attribute information to enable service search
Service search server device 4 according to Join protocol
Send to Thereby, the service proxy information of the service provided by each service provider and the service attribute information are registered in the service search server device 4.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2C, from the terminal device 2 requesting a desired service search, a disc search is performed to search for a service search server device 4 that provides a Lookup service.
When a message according to the overy protocol is transmitted, the service search server device 4 is transmitted as in the case of FIG.
Responds to the Discovery message, and returns a response message indicating the presence of the Lookup service to the terminal device 2.

When the terminal device 2 finds the Lookup service (service search server device 4), it generates keyword information for searching for a desired service according to the Lookup protocol, and transmits the keyword information to the service search server device 4.

The service search server device 4 is connected to the terminal device 2
Is compared with the service attribute information registered in the Lookup service to determine whether there is a service that matches them. And
If a matching service is found, the service proxy information is downloaded to the terminal device 2.

As shown in FIG. 2D, when the service proxy information is downloaded to the terminal device 2, the terminal device 2 communicates with the service providing server device 1 using the downloaded service proxy information. With the above procedure, the terminal device 2 can receive the provision of the service.

The above Discovery protocol, Join protocol, and Lookup protocol are protocol names defined in the Jini specification.

As shown in FIG. 3, the program (service object) included in the service providing server device 1 includes a service application program, and the service provided to the terminal device 2 is realized by the service application program.

The service application program contains service proxy information. When a user uses a service provided by a service application program, service proxy information is downloaded to the terminal device 2 in advance. The terminal device 2 uses the service proxy information to provide the service providing server device 1
The service is provided by accessing.

The service object contains service attribute information. The service attribute information includes a plurality of attribute values, and these attribute values describe a function of a service provided by the service providing server device 1, interface conditions, and the like.

As described above, in order for the service providing server device 1 to provide a service to a user according to a service object, first, the service search server device 4 connected to the network 5 sends the service attribute information and the service proxy information to the user. Register

At this time, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, the service search server device 4 stores service proxy information and service attribute information corresponding to four types of services: service a, service b, service c, and service d. Look
Registered for each up service.

On the other hand, in the terminal device 2 used by the user, a list of attribute values called a service template that describes service functions and interface conditions necessary for specifying a target service (in FIG.
E) is created.

The service template is transmitted from the user to the Lookup service of the service search server device 4 when searching for a service. The service search server device 4 compares the service template with the attribute values of various services registered in the Lookup service. Then, when a service that matches them is registered, the service proxy information is downloaded to the terminal device 2, a message indicating that the target service is found, information for using the service, and the like. Is the terminal device 2
Sent to. The above is the service search processing procedure in the Jini system.

Next, the configurations of the wireless terminal device 2 and the service search information management server device 3 will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the wireless terminal device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of the service search information management server device shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a service search information database provided in the service search information management server device shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is provided in the service search information management server device shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a service attribute database.

As shown in FIG. 5, the terminal device 2 includes a processing unit 21 for performing a search process for a desired service, a wireless communication unit 22 for communicating with the service search information management server device 3, and a service search. Display device 23 for displaying results and the like
And an input device 24 for inputting various information such as service attribute information and profile information, and a sensor device 25 for detecting the external environment, the position of the wireless terminal device, and the like.

The processing device 21 is a terminal application unit 211 for controlling the service search process by the terminal device 2.
A service request processing unit 212 for transmitting a search request for a desired service, a communication control unit 213 for controlling communication with the service search information management server device 3, and registering profile information in the service search information management server device 3. And a profile generation unit 215 for generating profile information.

Further, the processing device 21 records and holds a terminal ID which is an identifier for identifying the terminal device 2. When the service proxy information is downloaded from the service search server device 4, the service proxy information is recorded.

In FIG. 5, the processing device 21 has a terminal application unit 211, a service request processing unit 212,
Although the configuration includes the communication control unit 213, the profile registration unit 214, and the profile generation unit 215, these functions may be realized by a CPU that executes processing according to a program recorded on a recording medium.

In such a configuration, the processing of the terminal device 2 includes a registration process of profile information and a service search process. These processes may be performed simultaneously.

In the former profile information registration processing, the terminal profile information of the terminal device 2 is collected by the profile generator 215. The terminal profile information collected here includes information on the performance of the terminal device 2 such as, for example, the display capability of the display device 23, the input method of the input device 24, or the storage capacity of various information stored in the processing device 21, The information includes external environment information (temperature and the like) detected by the sensor device 25, position information of the terminal device 2, and the like. These pieces of information are transmitted to the service search information management server 3 together with user profile information (for example, gender, age, hobbies, etc.), which is personal information input by the user, by the profile registration unit 214 and registered.

The service search information management server 3
Then, the profile information is stored in the terminal I of the terminal device 2.
Since the information is registered in association with each D, once the profile information is registered, the profile information of each terminal device 2 can be identified by the registered terminal ID thereafter.

On the other hand, the latter service search process is processed by the service request processing unit 212 triggered by an access request to the service search server device 4. The access request to the service search server device 4 is, for example, when the user requests addition of a specific function according to the menu screen displayed on the display device 23 or when the terminal device 2
Various reasons are conceivable, for example, when a predetermined service is required due to the connection of a peripheral device or the like to the Internet.

The service request processing section 212 generates keyword information for searching for a service from a keyword or the like input by the user. The generated keyword information is transmitted by the communication control unit 213 to the service search information management server 3 via the wireless communication unit 22.

When the target service is found as a result of the service search, the terminal device 2 downloads the service proxy information of the service from the service search server device 4 via the service search information management server device 3 and provides the service. The server device 1 can be accessed.

As shown in FIG. 6, the service search information management server 3 is used for transmitting / receiving information to / from the service search server 4 via the network 5 and the terminal interface 31 which is an interface with the terminal 2. The configuration includes a network interface unit 32.

The terminal interface unit 31 includes a profile registration processing unit 311 for registering profile information of the terminal device 2, a profile processing unit 312 for managing profile information, and a service request transmitted from the terminal device 2. Service request processing unit 3 for processing
13, a terminal recognizing unit 314 for identifying the terminal device 2 that has made the service request, a keyword analysis processing unit 315 for analyzing keyword information for search transmitted from the terminal device 2, and a service for the terminal device 2. A download processing unit 316 for downloading proxy information and the like;
The communication control unit 317 controls communication with the terminal device 2.

The terminal interface unit 31 includes:
A profile database 318 for recording terminal profile information transmitted from the terminal device 2 is provided as a storage device. Also, the terminal interface unit 3
1 includes a wireless communication unit 33 for performing wireless communication with the terminal device 2, and the operation of the wireless communication unit 33 is controlled by the communication control unit 317.

In such a configuration, the terminal interface unit 31 performs management of profile information and front-end processing for a service search request.

The terminal interface unit 31 receives the profile information registration request transmitted individually from the terminal device 2 or the profile information registration request transmitted together with the service search request by the profile registration process 311, and receives the received profile information. Is stored and updated in the profile database 318 in association with the terminal ID.

Also, the profile processing unit 312
Analyze the profile information stored in the terminal profile database 318 and group the terminal devices 2 having similar profile information or users who use the terminal devices 2 (generate profile group information).
Perform Then, the contents of the profile database 318 are laid out again according to the group structure. This process may be performed periodically, or may be performed when a registration request for new profile information from the terminal device 2 is received. Information registered in the profile database 318 is sent to the network interface unit 32 by the profile processing unit 312.

When a service search request is received from the terminal device 2, first, the terminal ID
To identify the terminal device 2 and the service request processing unit 3
13 reads out the user's profile information or profile group information stored in the profile database 318.

The keyword information received from the terminal device 2 is analyzed by the keyword analysis processing unit 315.
The information is transmitted to the network interface unit 32 as a service request template together with the profile information and the profile group information.

Thereafter, the process for service search is executed by the network interface unit 32. When the target service is found, the download processing unit 316 downloads the service proxy information transmitted from the service search server device 4 to the terminal device 2.

On the other hand, the network interface unit 3
Reference numeral 2 denotes a communication control unit 321 for controlling communication with the service search server device 4 (for example, a Lookup service of Jini specification) connected to the network 5 and a Lookup service of the service search server device 4 according to the Jini specification. Jini Lookup request processing unit 322 for making a service search request (Lookup) and Ji receiving Lookup service search results
ni Lookup result processing unit 323, service information search processing unit 324 that generates a service template required for the Lookup service, profile processing unit 325 that manages information of a service attribute database described later, and attributes of the service used by the user The configuration includes an attribute information registration processing unit 326 that stores values in a service attribute database, and a transfer determination processing unit 327 that transfers information stored in the service attribute database to a service search information database described later.

The network interface unit 3
2, a service search information database 3 for storing service search information used for service search as a storage device;
28, and a service attribute database 329 for storing attribute values of services used by the user.

Further, the network interface unit 32 includes a network communication processing unit 34 for communicating with the service search server device 4 via the network 5, and the network communication processing unit 34 operates by the communication control unit 321. Is controlled.

In FIG. 6, in the terminal interface unit 31, the profile registration processing unit 311, the profile processing unit 312, the service request processing unit 313, the terminal recognition unit 314, the keyword analysis processing unit 315, the download processing unit 316, and the communication It has a control unit 317, and a communication processing unit 321 and a Jini
Lookup request processing unit 322, Jini Lookup result processing unit 32
3, a configuration including a service information search processing unit 324, a profile processing unit 325, an attribute information registration processing unit 326, and a transfer determination processing unit 327 is shown. It may be realized by a processing device including the same.

In such a configuration, when the service search information management server device 3 starts operating, the service search information database 328 stores the minimum attribute values according to the standard schema of Jini. However, at this time, association with the client group has not been performed. The service attribute database 329 is empty.

When a service search is requested from the terminal device 2, a service request template is passed from the terminal interface unit 31 to the network interface unit 32.

The network interface unit 32
The service information search processing unit 324 searches the service search information database 328 based on the description content of the service request template, and generates a service template used in the Lookup service.

The generated service template is stored in the Jini
The search request message of the Jini specification generated by the lookup request processing unit 322 is transmitted to the Lookup service (service search server device 4) on the network via the network communication unit 34 together with the Jini protocol search request.

As a result of the search processing by the Lookup service, if a service searched using the service template is found, the service search server device 4 sends the service proxy information of the found service and service attribute information related to the service. (Jini does not define a function to download the service attribute information itself, but it is also possible to download the service attribute information at the same time. Here, the service proxy information and the service attribute information are downloaded at the same time. It is assumed that).

The service proxy information is downloaded to the terminal device 2 via the wireless communication unit 33 by the download processing unit 316 of the terminal interface unit 31.

The terminal device 2 accesses the service providing server device 1 using the downloaded service proxy information. If a plurality of service providing server devices 1 that provide the same service are found, the terminal device 2
The user who uses will choose among them. In that case, the service proxy information of the selected service is downloaded to the terminal device 2.

When the searched service is used by the user, a message indicating that the downloaded service is used is notified from the terminal device 2 to the service search information management server device 3.

When notified of the use of the service, the network interface unit 32 sets the attribute information registration processing unit 32
6, the frequency information is added to the attribute information of the service downloaded to the terminal device 2 and stored in the service attribute database 329. When storing the service attribute information in the service attribute database 329, the profile information of the terminal device 2 that has requested the service search when the service attribute information is obtained, or the profile group information and the keyword described in the service request template. Stored in association with.

When the same service attribute is already stored in the service attribute database 329, only the frequency information is updated. Also, the frequency information of the service search information used for searching for the service used by the user in the service search information database 328 is updated.

The network interface unit 32 periodically monitors the service attribute database 329 by the transfer judgment processing unit 327, and when the frequency information added to each service attribute information exceeds a predetermined threshold value, The service search information database 3 associates the attribute information with the profile information or profile group information of the corresponding terminal device 2 or the corresponding search keyword.
28 respectively. At this time, frequency information as a service search information database 328 is newly added.

As shown in FIG. 7, the service search information database 328 stores grouped profile information (client group A, client group B, and client group C in FIG. 7) and keywords (keywords in FIG. 7). The service search information and frequency information associated with the service search information are stored in each element.

For example, if a service search request using the keyword “A” is received from the terminal device 2 having the profile information classified into the client group A, Lookup
The service template used in the service describes service search information 1 to 3 respectively. If the number of pieces of service search information described in the service template is limited, the added frequency information is checked, and the frequency information with higher frequency information is preferentially selected.

As shown in FIG. 8, the service attribute database 329 stores grouped profile information (in FIG. 8, client group A, client group B, and client group C) and a keyword (in FIG. 8, the keyword “A”). ), Keyword “b”), and each element stores service attribute information and frequency information associated therewith.

For example, when a terminal 2 having the profile information classified into the client group A issues a service search request using the keyword “a”, and the service found there is used by the user, the service related to the service is requested. The attribute information is added to the area of the client group A and the keyword “a” as frequency information (initially an initial value) and written. If the service attribute information transmitted from the service search server device 4 is already registered, only the frequency information added thereto is updated.

Next, the procedure of the service search method of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure for registering profile information in the terminal device in the procedure of the service search method of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the service search method in the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the processing procedure of a search request. FIG. 11 shows the procedure of the service search method of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a procedure for processing profile information in the service search information management server. FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a procedure for processing a service search request in the service search information management server in the procedure of the service search method of the present invention. .

First, the procedure for registering profile information in the terminal device 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 9, when a registration request for profile information is generated by a user operation (step S
1) The processing device 21 of the terminal device 2 displays a message prompting input of user profile information by the profile registration unit 214, and accepts input of user profile information (step S2).

Further, the processing device 21 collects the terminal profile information by the profile generator 215 (step S3). The information collected here is, for example, information on functions and performance of the terminal device 2 such as hardware of the terminal device 2 and installed software.

Further, the processing device 21 acquires the terminal ID of the terminal device 2 and transmits the information to the service search information management server device 3 together with the profile registration request.

Next, a processing procedure of a service search request in the terminal device 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 10, when a service that is not supported in a stand-alone manner is requested in the terminal device 2 by, for example, an input from a user (step S11), the processing device 21 of the terminal device 2 transmits The service request is transmitted to the service request processing unit 212 (step S12). The service request processing unit 212 generates keyword information for searching for a service according to the contents of the service request input by the user (step S).
13). The keyword information created at this time does not include information considering the profile information.

Subsequently, the processing device 21 acquires information that has not been registered during the above-described terminal profile information registration processing (step S14). The information obtained here is
For example, environmental information such as the current time and temperature, or the location where the terminal device 2 is located when the terminal device 2 is a mobile terminal, is information that cannot be registered in advance.

The created keyword information and profile information are transmitted to the service search information management server 3 together with the terminal ID (step S15). Thereafter, the terminal device 2 waits for a notification of the service search result (service discovery) from the service search information management server device 3 (step S16).

When the processing device 21 receives the service discovery notification message from the service search information management server device 3, the processing device 21 fetches the downloaded service proxy information (step S17), and uses the service proxy information to respond to the corresponding service providing server. The device 1 is accessed (step S18), and a desired service is used by a service application program provided from the service providing server device 1 (step S19).

Next, the service search information management server device 3
Will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 11, the service search request or profile information transmitted from the terminal device 2 is received by the terminal interface unit 31 of the service search information management server device 3 (step S21). The terminal interface unit 31 receives the terminal ID by the terminal recognizing unit 314 and identifies the terminal device 2 of the transmission source (Step S).
22). Subsequently, the terminal recognition unit 314 analyzes the request content of the terminal device 2 of the transmission source, and determines whether the request is a registration request for profile information or a service search request (step S23).

If the request from the terminal device 2 is a service search request, the terminal interface unit 31 receives the service search request in the service request processing unit 313 (step S24), and sends the service search request to the terminal device 2 identified by the terminal ID. The corresponding profile group in the profile database 318 is specified (step S25). Further, the content of the service request is analyzed by the keyword analysis processing unit 315, and a service request template is generated (step S26). The service request template generated at this time includes information on the profile group to which the terminal device 2 requesting the service belongs and keyword information for specifying the service.

The terminal interface unit 31 transfers the created service request template to the network interface unit 32 (step S27), and waits for a service search result notification (service discovery) from the service search information management server device 3 (step S28). ).

Upon receiving the service discovery notification from the service search information management server device 3, the terminal interface unit 31 receives the service proxy information via the network interface unit 32, and the download processing unit 316 transmits the service proxy information to the terminal device. 2 (step S29).

Further, the service search information management server device 3
If there is no notification of service discovery from the terminal device 2, the terminal device 2 is notified of an error message indicating that the search cannot be performed (step S3).
0) On the other hand, if it is determined in step S23 that the request content from the terminal device 2 is a request for registering profile information, the terminal interface unit 31 receives the transferred profile information by the profile registration processing unit 311. (Step S31) and store it in the profile database 318 (Step S32).

Next, the terminal interface unit 31 analyzes the profile information stored in the profile database 318 by the profile processing unit 312, and groups similar profile information (step S).
33). At this time, the profile information of each group
The information is stored in the profile database 318 in association with the terminal ID of the terminal device 2 belonging to the group.

It is to be noted that the efficiency of the analysis process of the profile database 318 can be improved if it is executed when new profile information is registered and when the registered terminal profile information is changed.

The updated profile database 31
8 is notified to the profile processing unit 325 of the network interface unit 32 (step S3).
4).

Next, the service search information management server device 3
Will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in FIG. 12, the network interface unit 32 of the service search information management server 3
Receives the service search request and the service request template from the terminal interface unit 31 (step S
41), the contents of the received service request template are analyzed by the service information search processing unit 324 (step S42), and the service search information database 328 is searched using the profile group information and the keyword information extracted therefrom (step S43). ). And
An attribute value described in a service template to be passed to the Jini Lookup service on the network is extracted from the service search information database 328 to create a service template (step S44). Here, the service template to be created is service search information including information that cannot be registered in advance, such as terminal profile information, user profile information, and external environment and position information.

[0123] The service template is passed to the Jini Lookup request processing unit 322, and the Jini Lookup request processing unit 32
2, a Lookup request is transmitted to the Lookup service (service search server device 4) connected to the network 5 (step S45).

The search result of the Lookup service is returned from the service search server device 4. Here, when the target service is found as a result of the search (step S46), the service proxy information and the service attribute information of the service are transmitted to the network interface unit 32.

The service proxy information is immediately delivered to the download processing unit 316 of the terminal interface unit 31 (step S47), and the terminal interface unit 31
Is downloaded to the terminal device 2 via the.

The transmitted service attribute information is stored in the attribute information registration processing unit 3 of the network interface unit 32.
26 (step S48).

The service search information management server device 3 monitors whether the searched service is used by the terminal device 2 (step S49), and when the service proxy information is discarded without using the service. Then, this search processing is terminated (step S50).

When the user uses the service, it is regarded that the service search meeting the purpose has been achieved, and the contents of the service search information database 328 are updated. Here, when the service is found, the frequency information added to the service search information described in the service template (that is, the service search information extracted from the service search information database 328) is updated (step S51). Also, the service attribute information transmitted together with the service proxy information by the attribute information registration processing unit 326 is stored in the service attribute database 329. At this time, if the same service attribute information has already been stored, the frequency information is updated (step S52).

When updating the service attribute database 329, the profile processing unit 325 stores the service information in association with the profile group of the terminal device 2 that has requested the service, and adds the keyword information to the keyword information when the service search is requested. It is stored in association with it.

When the service attribute information database 329 is updated, the transfer judgment processing unit 327 checks each frequency information of the attribute values stored in the service attribute database 329, and finds an attribute value exceeding a preset threshold. If there is, the attribute value is copied to the service search information database 328 together with the frequency information (step S5).
3). By performing such processing, a learning function using the service search information database 328 is realized.
Therefore, if the number of service search requests from the terminal device 2 increases, the needs of each client group can be learned, so that a service that matches the contents of the user profile information and the terminal profile information can be found with a higher probability. become.

[0131]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

By adding predetermined information to the keyword transmitted from the terminal device and generating service search information for causing the service search server device to search for a service desired by the user, the keyword transmitted from the terminal device is added to the keyword. In addition, since the missing information is supplemented, service search information that can be searched with sufficiently high accuracy is generated without transmitting a large amount of information for specifying the service.
Therefore, a service that satisfies the user's request can be efficiently found.

Further, service search information is stored in association with a keyword and managed in groups, and when a terminal device requests service search, the service search information is selected based on the keyword and the group of the terminal device. This increases the probability of finding a service that meets the user's requirements.

In particular, frequency information indicating the frequency of use of the searched service by the user is added to the service search information and accumulated. When the terminal device requests a service search, the service search information having a high use frequency is stored. The selection further increases the probability of finding a service that meets the user's requirements.

Further, since the needs of each group can be learned by repeating the search, it is possible to find out a service that matches the contents of the user profile information and the terminal profile information with a higher probability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a service search system according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a general configuration of a Jini system.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of programs and data recorded in a service providing server device shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of programs and data recorded in the client and service search server device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a wireless terminal device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a service search information management server device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of a service search information database provided in the service search information management server device shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a service attribute database provided in the service search information management server device shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a profile information registration process of the service search method of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a service search request processing procedure in a terminal device in the service search method of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure of profile information in the service search information management server device among the procedures of the service search method of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a service search request processing procedure in the service search information management server device among the procedures of the service search method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 service providing server device 2 terminal device 3 service search information management server device 4 service search server device 5 network 21 processing device 22, 33 wireless communication unit 23 display device 24 input device 25 sensor device 31 terminal interface unit 32 network interface unit 34 network Communication unit 211 Terminal application unit 212 Service request processing unit 213, 317, 321 Communication control unit 214 Profile registration unit 215 Profile generation unit 311 Profile registration processing unit 312, 325 Profile processing unit 313 Service request processing unit 314 Terminal recognition unit 315 Keyword analysis Processing unit 316 Download processing unit 318 Profile database 322 Jini Lookup request processing unit 323 Jini Lookup result processing unit 324 Service Information search processing unit 326 the attribute information registration processing unit 327 transfers the determination processing unit 328 service search information database 329 service attribute database

Claims (24)

[Claims] 1. A plurality of service providing server devices for providing a service via a network, and transmitting a keyword for specifying the service.
A terminal device used by a user who is a recipient of the service; and a service search server device that searches for a service providing server device that provides a desired service to the user. A service search method for searching for a service desired by a user from among services, adding predetermined information to a keyword transmitted from the terminal device, and searching the service search server device for a service desired by the user. A service search method for generating service search information for causing a search. And storing at least one of terminal profile information transmitted from the terminal device, the terminal profile information indicating the performance of the terminal device, and user profile information, which is personal information of the user, for each terminal device; 2. The service search method according to claim 1, wherein the terminal profile information or the user profile information is grouped for each similar information and managed in the group unit. 3. The service search information is stored in association with the keyword and managed in units of groups. When the keyword is received from the terminal device and the search for the service is requested, the keyword and 3. The service search method according to claim 2, wherein the service search information is selected based on the group of the terminal devices and transmitted to the service search server device. 4. A service searched by the service search server device, wherein frequency information indicating a usage frequency counted each time the user uses the service search information is added to the service search information and stored, and 4. The service search method according to claim 3, wherein when a search for a service is requested together with a keyword, the service search information that is frequently used is selected. 5. When the user uses a service searched by the service search server device, attribute information, which is information related to the service, is accumulated, and the attribute information is managed in the group unit. Item 2. The service search method according to item 2. 6. A method according to claim 6, wherein frequency information indicating a use frequency counted each time the user uses the service searched by the service search server device is added to the attribute information, and the attribute information is stored. 6. The service search method according to claim 5, wherein when the threshold value is exceeded, the attribute information is stored as the service search information related to the keyword and the group of the terminal devices. 7. A service search system for searching for a service desired by a user from various services provided through a network, comprising: a plurality of service providing server devices for providing the service; and specifying the service. Submit keywords to
A terminal device used by a user who is a recipient of the service; a service search server device for searching for a service providing server device for providing a desired service to the user; and adding predetermined information to a keyword transmitted from the terminal device A service search information management server device that generates service search information for causing the service search server device to search for a service desired by the user. 8. The service search information management server device transmits at least one of terminal profile information transmitted from the terminal device, the terminal profile information indicating performance of the terminal device, and user profile information, which is personal information of the user. The service search system according to claim 7, wherein the service profile is stored for each of the terminal devices, and the terminal profile information or the user profile information is grouped for each similar information and managed in the group. 9. The service search information management server device accumulates the service search information in association with the keyword and manages the service search information in units of groups, and receives the keyword from the terminal device and searches for the service. 9. The service search system according to claim 8, wherein when requested, the service search information is selected based on the keyword and the group of the terminal devices and transmitted to the service search server device. 10. The service search information management server device adds, to the service search information, frequency information indicating a use frequency counted each time the user uses the service searched by the service search server device. 10. The service search system according to claim 9, wherein when the terminal device requests a service search together with the keyword, the service search information having a high use frequency is selected. 11. The service search information management server device stores attribute information, which is information related to the service, when the user uses a service searched by the service search server device, 9. The service search system according to claim 8, wherein information is managed on a group basis. 12. The service search information management server device adds, to the attribute information, frequency information indicating use frequency counted each time the user uses a service searched by the service search server device. 12. The service search system according to claim 11, wherein when the use frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold, the attribute information is stored as the service search information related to the keyword and the terminal device group. 13. A plurality of service providing server devices for providing a service via a network, and transmitting a keyword for specifying the service.
A terminal device used by a user who is a recipient of the service; and a service search server device that searches for a service providing server device that provides a desired service to the user. A server device used in a service search system for searching for a service desired by a user from among services, wherein predetermined information is added to a keyword transmitted from the terminal device, and a service desired by the user is provided by the service. A server device having a processing device that generates service search information for causing a search server device to search. 14. At least one of terminal profile information transmitted from the terminal device, the terminal profile information indicating the performance of the terminal device, and user profile information, which is personal information of the user, is stored for each terminal device. A storage device that groups the terminal profile information or the user profile information for each similar information and stores the group; the processing device manages the terminal profile information or the user profile information in a unit of the group 14. The server device according to claim 13, wherein 15. The storage device, accumulates the service search information in association with the keyword, the processing device manages the service search information on a group basis, and receives the keyword from the terminal device. 15. The server device according to claim 14, wherein when the search for the service is requested, the service search information is selected based on the keyword and the group of the terminal devices and transmitted to the service search server device. 16. The storage device accumulates the service searched by the service search server device by adding frequency information indicating a usage frequency counted each time the user uses the service search information to the service search information, 16. The server device according to claim 15, wherein the processing device selects the frequently used service search information when a service search is requested together with the keyword from the terminal device. 17. The storage device, when the user uses a service searched by the service search server device, accumulates attribute information that is information related to the service, and the processing device includes: 15. The information is managed in the group unit.
The server device according to the above. 18. The storage device according to claim 1, wherein the storage device adds frequency information indicating usage frequency counted each time the user uses the service searched by the service search server device to the attribute information and accumulates the information. 18. The server according to claim 17, wherein the device stores the attribute information in the storage device as the service search information related to the keyword and the terminal device group when the use frequency exceeds a predetermined threshold value. apparatus. 19. A plurality of service providing server devices for providing a service via a network, and transmitting a keyword for specifying the service.
A terminal device used by a user who is a recipient of the service; and a service search server device that searches for a service providing server device that provides a desired service to the user. A program to be executed by a computer used in a service search system for searching for a service desired by a user from among services, wherein predetermined information is added to a keyword transmitted from the terminal device, and A program for causing a computer to execute a process for generating service search information for causing the service search server device to search for a service to be performed. 20. At least one of terminal profile information transmitted from the terminal device and indicating the performance of the terminal device or user profile information as personal information of the user is stored in a storage device for each terminal device. And storing the terminal profile information or the user profile information in the storage device by grouping the terminal profile information or the user profile information for each similar information, and managing the terminal profile information or the user profile information in a unit of the group. 19
The program described. 21. The service search information is stored in the storage device in association with the keyword, the service search information is managed in units of the groups, and the service search is performed while receiving the keyword from the terminal device. 21. The program according to claim 20, wherein when requested, the service search information is selected based on the keyword and the group of the terminal devices, and transmitted to the service search server device. 22. A service searched by the service search server device, and frequency information indicating a usage frequency counted each time the user uses the service search information is added to the service search information and stored in the storage device. 22. The program according to claim 21, wherein when the terminal device requests service search together with the keyword, the frequently used service search information is selected. 23. When the user uses a service searched by the service search server device,
3. The attribute information, which is information related to the service, is stored in the storage device, and the attribute information is managed in the group unit. 4.
0 described program. 24. A method in which frequency information indicating a usage frequency counted each time the user uses the service searched by the service search server device is added to the attribute information and stored in the storage device. 24. The program according to claim 23, wherein, when the value exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the attribute information is stored in the storage device as the service search information related to the keyword and the group of the terminal devices.